CHAPTER V

Summary

DEATH OF ALARIC IN 410-ATHAULF BECOMES KING OF THE VISIGOTHS—HE LEAVES ITALY—COUNT HERACLIAN'S ENTERPRISE AGAINST ROME—HONO RIUS COMES TO ROME IN 417—RESTORATION OF THE CITY—DEPARTURE OF RUTILIUS

Death of Alaric, 410

As long as the Visigoths remained in Italy, the de populated city stood in dread of their return and of a renewed sack, and in its alarm found neither quiet nor energy to repair the damage it had suffered. Alaric, meanwhile, died in the autumn of 410, branded with the eternal stigma of having laid waste beautiful Greece, but at the same time covered with the imperishable glory of having, at the close of his destructive career through the effete world of antiquity, conquered and spared mighty Rome. He was buried by his warriors in the river Busento, and his brother-in-law Athaulf elected King in his stead. Alaric, perhaps, had not been endowed with the capacity of rising above the level of an errant barbarian leader; the calculating and equally bold Athaulf, however, seemed in every way fitted for the task of founding a Gothic Kingdom in Italy. He undoubtedly cherished the scheme, but was unable to carry it into execution, almost a century of tumult and convulsion being required to elapse before the Germans, gradually awaking to ideas of political life, advanced from the position of rapacious allies in the service of the Roman Empire to become the actual rulers of Italy.